Clinical efficacy of γ‑globulin combined with dexamethasone and methylprednisolone, respectively, in the treatment of acute transverse myelitis and its effects on immune function and quality of life

Effects of γ-globulin combined with dexamethasone or methylprednisolone in the treatment of acute transverse myelitis (ATM) were investigated. A retrospective analysis of medical records from 136 ATM patients admitted to Linzi District People's Hospital from July 2014 to September 2017 was performed. Patients treated with dexamethasone combined with γ-globulin were in group A (66 cases), and patients treated with methylprednisolone combined with γ-globulin were in group B (70 cases). Clinical efficacy, recovery time of bone marrow function and incidence rate of adverse reactions were analyzed and compared between the two groups. T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of both groups were detected by Flow cytometry. Quality of life of patients was assessed by the Quality of Life Scale (SF-36) developed by the American Institute of Medicine. Time of sensory recovery, self-walking, improving muscle strength at two levels and urination recovery after treatment in group B were significantly shorter than those in group A (P<0.001); effective rate of treatment in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05); incidence rate of adverse reactions in group B was significantly lower than that in group A (P<0.05); ratios of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ cells and CD4+/CD8+ in peripheral blood of group A and group B after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05); scores of general health (GH), physical function (PF), role physical (RP), body pain (BP), social function (SF), role emotional (RE), mental health (MH) and vitality (VT) in group B after treatment were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.05). In conclusion, clinical efficacy of γ-globulin combined with methylprednisolone in the treatment of ATM patients shows definitely fewer adverse reactions, which can improve their immune function and quality of life.